WIP Hussard [7th] de l'Empire - Claude Thierry's 3D figure

[Canterbury Coxswain]

When I saw this figure at the end of 2024 I just 'fell in love' with it and saw it as a real challenge to try and get me using oils on an acrylic base....for the first time, proper!
It was also to be my 7th 'bust' figure...so the 7th Regiment it had to be! However, I shall be creating this alongside another bust that will be in acrylics only.
What do I know about Napoleonic Hussars...virtually 'zilch', but Thierry has answered some of my questions and sent me some photos to start my research folder. Added to this Melanie [clubcat] has also given been a great help, in the past few weeks, and sent me some superb information, suggestions and encouragement that has formed a good 'bed rock' from where I can start to plan the way forward.
This is not going to be a quick project, in any way! My plan is to research and enjoy the modelling aspects of this great Regiment and model....and hopefully come out at the other end more informed and educated than I started [I can almost hear some chuckles from various parts of the Planet!].
I have also purchased Andre Jouineau's 'French Hussars 2. From the 1st to the 8th Regiment 1804-1812' as my starting point and reference book.
Finally, at this starting point, I took it to the Faversham Military Modelling Group's monthly meeting last Saturday and it was favourably viewed and commented upon. It raised a couple of points [from the Napoleonic modellers] and I am in touch with Thierry over these. Subsequently, I went to Peter Robinson's yesterday [a fellow member who has helped me a lot in recent months regarding the painting of bust figures] and we looked at some further books and various oil paint colours.
So that's where I am at, and what will follow will be some of Thierry's photos, which he has given me permission to use, and then mine, showing what I have received.
I hope you will enjoy my 'meagre' attempts to give this model what it deserves, but whatever I do, I will try to enjoy and gain some good expeirences.
I will welcome any comments, especially as and when you see me making mistakes both historically or in modelling terms.




Next I will add another Post showing the ScreenShots from Thierry's 3D printer screen, followed by what I receieved from him exactly a week ago, via the AirMail post.
Kim

 

[Canterbury Coxswain]

Here are the ScreenShots mentioned above and also the photos I took today, showing them in their adapted carrying box and then individually. In the next few days I will hope to start the preparation work on each part, to get them ready for priming with their acrylic base coatings.









Well, that's rather a lot, but hopefully it will whet your appetite to follow this 'build' or even purchase your own!

I will come back with more information and what my 'project steps' will be in the next few days....other 'household matters' will need to be balanced with this project.
Kim

 

[Briggsy]

It really is an impressive bust Kim and the detail is excellent. Lots to keep you busy, don't obsess over the nitty gritty just enjoy the process, after all the enjoyment of it all is why we do it. Really looking forward to seeing this projects progression

Cheers Simon

 

[MCPWilk]

This is superb. Personally I would prefer a pair of legs to a pedestal, however well the latter has been modelled. The overall height is the same.

Mike

 

[Malkie]

This is a superb model to hone your talents on. I think slow and easy would be the best advice I could give.

Malkie

 

[Nap]

Hi Kim

Great to see you doing this , there’s lots of info avail from members on Hussars

Enjoy the research and the modelling ...it’s all about fun

Following this with much interest

Enjoy the piece

Nap

 

[clubcat]

Break a leg...oh er it's a bust.. you know what I mean!
Melanie

 

[MalcC]

You showed me this at the club meeting last Saturday, such an impressive piece.
I look forward to seeing you bring this to life.

Malc

 

[claude thierry]

Hello everyone,
A big thank you to Kim! As you promised, you took the time to write a little document about the bust, and I’m truly grateful. It means a lot to me and makes me really happy.
I’m looking forward to reading the next part.

To reply to Mike, they are planned, the model is ready, I just need to print it as soon as I have some time.

 

[khollar]

Thanks for sharing all of the photos, Kim. It is an impressive piece of sculpting and I’m looking forward to getting my hands on one.

In regards to reference materials, let me recommend the Pinterest app, which has hundreds of images of surviving uniforms, artists paintings and reference plates. It all arrives as a jumble, but you can create a folder and save the ones you want to keep and disregard the rest.

Cheers,
Kurt

 

[Canterbury Coxswain]

Well, after a busy week on other things, thought I must respond to all of those that have contributed above - thanks for your time, interest and help.
Simon - I know what you mean by 'don't obsess', but in the model boat world of RNLI 1/12th radio controlled models I am a self-confessed 'rivet counter', so, will try to get it right, but, this is mainly to be used as a venture into the 'world of using oils' on figures and at this scale I have no excuse not to get the detail right [I hope!].
Mike - appreciate the comment regarding legs, but from comments here, from Thierry, and in his emails to me, he seems to have that well in hand. See below, regarding scale of the bust / figure.
Melanie - know what you mean with the smiley face emoji.....many thanks for your help, so far.
Malkie - advice taken, and it will be very slow....not so sure regarding the easy bit, though.
Nap- yes, fun, and goes with what Simon said.
Malc[olm] - I'm sure you'll give me your normal help, advice and encouragement when we meet each month.
Kurt - just got home from choir rehearsal and spent the next hour looking at Pinterest and saving valuable pictures to my Hussar Folder! Thanks.
...........and last, but not least, Thierry! Many thanks for your help and patience with all my queries so far!

At this point I must say that Thierry, from the outset of my interest in his new project, the ordering, paying and sending of the 'bust', was a pleasure to deal with, all went well. With a couple of things he has noticed from my photos of the received figure, he was quick to offer new parts, if required. Which leads me to my next part of this article.........

Scale of the bust - to cut a long story short, Thierry has provided his overall figure sizes to me and we are 'almost' in agreement that this is 1/6th scale [I think more like 1/5.5th - there's the rivet counter!!]. It's a lot larger than my 1/9th figures, but even larger than a Centurion that I completed a few months back and that was advertised as 1/6th...hence my enquiry. I think that figure is more like 1/7.5th. Thierry has said that his figure, with the legs, will be 28.7cms. Enough said, but this might help a few folk considering it as their next 'project'.

The one thing I did notice, straight away, with my very limited knowledge on this era and French Hussars, is that the rank chevrons [5] shown on the figure should be banded as - narrow/wide/narrow/wide/narrow - as I had spotted on Colonel Marbot's Pelisse and Dolman sleeves from his preserved clothing in the French Museum. Others have since picked up on the same matter. This does not bother me....I will probably paint mine as a Major, which will have silver braid for the narrow chevrons and gold braid for the wider ones, just to make the actual model look more distinctive in appearance [in my opinion].

Finally, here are a few photos, taken this afternoon, of the book I will be using most as my 'go to' reference book. Quite informative and well illustrated.




My next actual practical work will be the sanding away of the 3D printing 'attachment' or 'scaffolding' supports [what in the injection moulding of models would be called 'sprues' or 'trees']. This has to be done and will be time consuming, but necessary.
Regards to each,
Kim

 

[Richard Baxter]

One thing that I really like about this bust is that the pelisse looks heavy and hangs correctly. This is a heavy garment, made from fur, fabric and lots of wire frogging and other braiding. It would hang vertically over the left shoulder as shown here, and not be flying about all over the place as we often see. Well done, Thierry!

Richard.

 

[Michaels]

Zunächst einmal ist es ein sehr schönes Stück Arbeit von Thierry!
Vielen Dank für Ihre Größenangabe, Kim. Das sind wichtige Informationen. Ich wollte die Figur zu meinen 200mm Figuren hinzufügen. Dafür ist er mit 28,7 cm definitiv zu groß. Ich stimme dem Maßstab 1/6 zu.

Michael

First of all, it is a very nice piece of work by Thierry!
Thank you for your size information, Kim. That is important information. I wanted to add the figure to my 200mm figures. He's definitely too big for that at 28.7cm. I agree with the 1/6 scale.

Michael

 

[clubcat]

Almost life size then...should make it easier to paint the lacework!
I like your book, the information seems nicely set out. May have to hunt down a copy, oh and a hussar to go with it too....
Melanie